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Samsung HW-N450 vs Sonos Playbar
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Samsung HW-N450
Sonos Playbar
Tested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Jan 11, 2024 07:35 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:26 PM
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Amazon.com
Channels2.1
Channels3.0
Variants
- HW-N450
- Playbar
Our Verdict
Samsung HW-N450
Sonos Playbar
The Sonos Playbar and Samsung HW-N450 are both decent soundbars but for different reasons. The Samsung has a wireless sub, which helps a bit with the bass performance, while the Sonos has a 3.0 configuration with a dedicated center channel, which is great for dialogue and voices. The Samsung is more recent and has a bit more ports like a Full HDMI In and an ARC port, which the Sonos lacks. If you plan on getting a high-end setup and upgrading, the Sonos will be the better option since you can add a separate sub and satellites.
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Standard
HW-N450
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Playbar
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Amazon.comStandard
HW-N450
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Playbar
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HW-N450
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BestBuy.comMain Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
6.9
7.2
Audio Format Support - ARC
7.1
0.0
Center
6.4
8.8
Dialogue Enhancement
No
Yes
Stereo Soundstage
7.0
8.0
Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
7.4
0.0
Full Comparison
Design
Style - Bar
Style photo - bar
Style - Subwoofer
Style photo - sub
Style - Satellites
Style photo - satellites
Dimensions - Bar
Dimensions photo - bar
Width
35.6" (90.4 cm)
35.5" (90.1 cm)
Height
2.1" (5.3 cm)
3.3" (8.5 cm)
Depth
3.2" (8.1 cm)
5.4" (13.8 cm)
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Dimensions photo - sub
Width
8.1" (20.7 cm)
N/A
Height
14.5" (36.9 cm)
N/A
Depth
10.8" (27.4 cm)
N/A
Dimensions - Satellites
Dimensions photo - satellites
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Back - Bar
Back photo - bar
Bar Mounting
Universal (holes on underside)
Proprietary
Back - Subwoofer
Back photo - sub
Enclosure
Ported
No Subwoofer
Back - Satellites
Back photo - satellites
Mounting
No
No
Build Quality
7.5
8.0
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
HDMI Cable Length
N/A
N/A
Digital Optical Cable Length
1.5 m (4.9 ft)
1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.4
7.4
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Tested Preset
Standard
No Preset
Slope
-0.60
0.48
Std. Err.
3.06 dB
2.21 dB
Channels
2.1
3.0
Low-Frequency Extension
47.6 Hz
51.9 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
15.6 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.4
7.5
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
Standard
No Preset
Suggested Bass Setting
0
1
Suggested Treble Setting
0
-3
Slope
-0.60
-0.11
Std. Err.
3.06 dB
2.04 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
47.6 Hz
51.1 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
19.3 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
7.0
8.0
Crosstalk Error
2.58 dB
2.63 dB
Stereo Dynamics
7.9
7.7
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
93.1 dB SPL
96.0 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
1.38 dB
2.41 dB
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
7.5
7.6
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.42
0.47
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
3.02
1.96
Center
6.4
8.8
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Phantom
Discrete
Slope
-1.45
0.44
Std. Err.
4.00 dB
1.99 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
91.9 dB SPL
96.1 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.34
0.67
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.77
1.83
Surround 5.1
3.8
4.5
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
-1.49
0.12
Std. Err.
4.05 dB
2.51 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
89.5 dB SPL
94.8 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.38
1.24
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.21
2.53
7.1 Rears
No
No
Height (Atmos)
0.0
0.0
Height Setup
H Frequency Response
Localization
Not Supported
Not Supported
Slope
N/A
N/A
Std. Err.
N/A
N/A
SPL @ Max Volume
N/A
N/A
Weighted THD @ 80dB
N/A
N/A
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
N/A
N/A
Sound Enhancement Features
5.1
6.2
Room Correction
No
Yes
Dialogue Enhancement
No
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
Yes
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
Yes
No
Bass Adjustment
Yes
Yes
Treble Adjustment
Yes
Yes
EQ
Graphic + Presets
No
Surround Level Adjustment
No
No
Rear Level Adjustment
No
No
Height Level Adjustment
No
No
Virtual Surround
Yes
No
Connectivity
Physical Inputs - Bar
Physical inputs bar photo 1
Physical inputs bar photo 2
Optical Audio In
1
1
HDMI ARC
1 (shared)
No
HDMI Out
1 (shared)
No
Full HDMI In
1
No
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
1
No
RCA In
No
No
USB for Files
1
No
Ethernet
No
2
Audio Format Support - ARC
7.1
0.0
eARC
No
No
Dolby Atmos
No
No
Dolby Digital
Yes
No
Dolby Digital Plus
No
No
DTS
Yes
No
DTS:X (eARC only)
No
No
Dolby TrueHD (eARC only)
No
No
DTS-HD MA (eARC only)
No
No
5.1 PCM (eARC only)
No
No
Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
7.4
0.0
Dolby Atmos
No
No
DTS:X
No
No
Dolby Digital
Yes
No
Dolby Digital Plus
No
No
DTS
Yes
No
Dolby TrueHD
No
No
DTS-HD MA
No
No
5.1 PCM
No
No
Audio Format Support - Optical
10
10
Dolby Digital
Yes
Yes
DTS
Yes
Yes
Latency
8.5
8.8
Latency Video
ARC
47 ms
N/A
Optical
46 ms
36 ms
Full HDMI In
44 ms
N/A
Wireless Playback
6.0
2.0
Bluetooth
Yes
No
Wi-Fi
No
Yes
Chromecast built-in
No
No
Apple AirPlay
No
No
Other Input Specifications
4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough
No
No
4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough
No
No
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough
No
No
HDR10 Passthrough
No
No
Connectivity - Subwoofer
Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1
Physical controls subwoofer photo 1
Sub Wireless
Yes
No
Connectivity - Satellites
Physical inputs satellites photo 1
Physical controls satellites photo 1
Sat Wireless
No
No
Additional Features
Interface
Interface photo
Display
Yes
No
Bar Controls
Controls photo
Remote
Remote photo
Universal Remote
No
No
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
No
No
Google Assistant
No
No
Apple Siri
No
No
App
App image
App Name
Samsung Audio Remote
Sonos Controller
iOS
Yes
Yes
Android
Yes
Yes
Acts As A Remote
Yes
Yes
Controls Soundbar's Settings
Some
All
Casts Device Files
Yes
Yes
Other Features
Power Saving
Auto-off
No
HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control)
Yes
No
Check Price
Standard
HW-N450
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comStandard
Playbar
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comStandard
HW-N450
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comStandard
Playbar
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Walmart.comStandard
HW-N450
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comStandard
Playbar
SEARCH
B&HStandard
HW-N450
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Amazon.comStandard
Playbar
SEARCH
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Samsung HW-N450
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Samsung HW-N450 vs Sonos Playbar: Main Discussion
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